Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Data on Number of Households Who Collected Public Transport Vouchers by Registration or Appeal

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Transport in view of the Government's announcement that 600,000 Public Transport Vouchers worth $30 each will be made available

a.     what is the number of households that have collected the PTVs by continuing to meet the eligibility criteria, by registration or by appeal; and

b.     whether the Ministry will consider disbursing PTVs of less than $30 to applicants with household income per person of more than $1,600 but less than $2,000, so as to cushion increased transport costs.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     As of 31 March 2023, about 264,000 of the 600,000 Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) made available in the 2022 exercise have been sent to households. These include 240,000 vouchers automatically sent to households that continue to meet the eligibility criteria from the 2021 exercise.

2.     The Ministry of Transport and People’s Association aim to ensure that no household that needs a PTV is denied one. We do give out PTVs to needy households that exceed the household income criteria but nonetheless have special circumstances that require additional assistance. These households may submit an appeal online or in person at their local Community Centres or Clubs from now until 31 October 2023.

3.     The availability of the PTVs was announced on 12 October 2022 together with the 2022 Fare Review Exercise, and again on 12 January 2023. Outreach channels include posters in buses and at public transport nodes. We urge those who need help with public transport cost and meet the criteria to apply for PTVs from now till 31 October 2023.